Single-edge razor blade sharpener



Jan. 31, 1950 w. w. SYFERT 2,495,910

SINGLE-EDGE RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER Filed Sept. 5, 1947 J72 5 38 INVENTOR. 44 ?/j W/LL/AMWSYFfRT 3 2 33 ATTORNEYS i atentecl Jan. 31, 195G 7 a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIN GLE-EDGE RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a sharpening mechanism for sharpening single edge razor blades.

An object of the invention is to provide a housing having mounted therein a rotary sharpening or honing means, which is especially adapted to sharpen or hone single edge razor blades.

A razor blade becomes dull and scratchymany with a single shave. The dullness is occasioned by the wearing away of the cutting edge. If the cutting edge is nicked, bent or flattened, the razor becomes scratchy. However, the wear on the cutting edge is not always discernible to the naked eye.

Another object of the invention, therefore, is to provide on the rotary sharpening means, or honing means, a plurality of sharpening elements which are made of leather or a composition leather, and mounting these elements in a zig-zag manner so that the blade will receive the same type of honing or sharpening effect as would be obtained by drawing a scythe stone over the cutting edge of a scythe.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists of the novel details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line il of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detailed sectional view on the line 6-3 of Figure 2 and Figure 7 is an elevational view of the sharpening and honing means.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the sharpener embodying the invention is generally designated by the reference numberal ID. The sharpener comprises a dome-shaped hollow casing ii, having a base l2, which is countersunk at 13 to receive the removable bottom plate I4 of the housing.

Extending transversely of the housing is a square shaped shaft l5, having the rounded ends l6 journalled in bearings I! which are removably mounted in the countersink [8 in the opposite sides of the casing ll. A washer I9 is removably secured to one end of the shaft l5 by the screw 23, while a crank 2| is removably secured to the opposite end by a screw 22. Fixed to the shaft I5, inwardly of the crank 2|, is'a ratchet disc 23 which is engaged by the dog 24 mounted at 25 on the casing I I, so that the shaft can be turned clockwise by means of the crank 2|, but cannot be turned anti-clockwise.

Removably mounted on the shaft l5, by means of the centrally located square-shaped base 26, is the wooden roller 21 on the periphery of which, is formed the zig-zag countersink 28, in which is suitably secured the zig-zag strip of sharpening and honing material 29 which is made of leather or a suitable substitute therefor. The thickness of the material 29 permits it to be slightly raised beyond the peripheral surface of the roller 2']. The formation of the material 29 gives a sharpening and honing efiect similar to the effect caused by drawing a stone over the sharpened edge of a scythe.

Secured to the sides of the casing by rivets 30, at positions slightly below the summit of the dome-shaped housing H, are the L-shaped brackets 3 l.

A plate 32 is secured to the brackets 3| by screws 33 and the openings 34 in the plate 32 to receive the screws 33 are elongated as shown in Figure 5 to permit adjustment of the plate as desired.

Secured to the plate 32, inwardl of one end thereof, by screws 35, is a hinge 36, which is screwed to the upper plate or blade holder 3'! by screws 38. Secured to the plate 32, inwardly of the opposite end thereof, by screws 39, is the spring catch 40, which is so mounted that the hooked end 4| thereof will engage the holder 31 and retain it in closed position. The upper surface of the plate 32, intermediate the hinge 36 and catch 40 is slanted downwardly as at 42, Figure 3, while the lower surface of the holder 31 is complementary shaped as at 43, Figure 3. The surfaces are Spaced apart to form the inclined groove 44 to receive the razor blade 45 whereby the blade is retained at the proper sharpening angle. Pins 46 in the plate 32 engage the conventional notches in the single edge blade 45 to retain the blade in position. The holder 31 is countersunk at 47 to receive the upper ends of the pins 45.

In use, when the sharpener is first used or even in subsequent use thereof, the plate M is removed so that suitable dressing may be applied to the material 29. After the plate M has been replaced, the base l2 of the casing H, is placed on a convenient flat supporting surface. The holder 31 is disengaged from the catch 40 and moved upwardly by means of the hinge 36, so that the blade 45 can be positioned on the surface 42 of the plate 32. The notches in the blade engage the pins 46 in the plate 32. The holder 32 is then swung closed, and the catch 40 engaged therewith. If the angle of the blade 45 is not in proper relation to the material 29, the screws 33 may be loosened for the adjustment of the plate 32. After the plate 32 :has been adjusted, and the screws 33 tightened, the sharpener is ready for use. By holding the casing I with one hand and rotating the crank 2| with the other hand, the material 29 will contact the blade 45 for the sharpening and honing thereof. The effect of the zig-zag movement of the material has the efiect previously described.

A blade, by the proper sharpening and' h'oning thereof may be used indefinitely, since (thereis little wear on the sharpened edge of the blade during thesh-arpening andhoning process.

It is believed that from the "foregoing descriplfiiOIl, the construction, operation and advantages of the sharpening and honing -device will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and .it is to be understood that changes in the .minor details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts maybe resorted "to, provided they fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and des'ireditobe securedby'Let- Iters Bat'en't is:

llrazor bladeh'olding means'for a sharpening meohan'ism having a casing, a rotary honing means mounted therein and a blade receiving opening in 'the top of the casing, comprising a .first plate and engaging the second plate to retain the plates in fixed relation to each other. WILLIAM W. SYFERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the -file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 875,935 Landis Janfl, 1908 926,865 Goldsmith 'et a1. July 6, 1909 1,205,685 Trotsky Nov. 21, 1916 1,352,956 Cooks Nov. "9, 1920 1,381,724 Maloney June'14, 1921 1,405,032 Heepe Jan. 31, 1922 1,504,506 Reynolds Aug. 12, '1924 1,543,386 Holtzman June 23, 1925 1,979,118 Wolcott Aug. 14, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number "Country Date 272,175 Great Britain Oc't.'2-'l, 1927 553,639 France Feb. '14, 1923 663,588 France Apr. '9, 1929 

